While cleaning out a closet recently, I came across a large shoe box full of letters from many friends who I’ve corresponded with through the years. Since I’m trying to get rid of things I don’t need anymore, I decided I would read through the letters and then throw them out.

I was so blessed to read them all and was reminded of the many close friendships I’ve had over the years. But it also made me sad that many of those relationships have gone by the wayside in that I haven’t seen or spoken with many of my old friends in years.

I reminisced and thought about the wonderful friends God has blessed me with throughout the years. There’s a season for all things, and God gave me special friends for each season of my life. I am very grateful to the many who were a special part of my life and helped me through difficult times and brought such joy.

As I thought about all these wonderful past friendships, and the friends I have now, I also thought about the most important friendship and relationship I could ever have.

The Lord is my very best friend, the only one with whom I share the deepest needs and secrets and thoughts of my heart. I can pour out my heart to Him – every thought, feeling and emotion, every pain, hurt and sorrow, every sin, failure and disappointment, every hope, joy and dream. He loves me so very much and delights in our friendship as much as I do.

God invites me with open arms to come sit and chat with Him about anything and everything. He is so faithful to love me, instruct and guide me, forgive me, help and comfort me – whatever it is that I need at the time – no matter how many times I have failed Him. 

Some may not know that we can have this type of relationship with the Lord, and wonder if it’s even sacrilegious to call God my best friend. But the Bible is full of references where God called different people His friend.

James 2:23 tells us that because Abraham believed God, God considered him to be righteous. “And he was called God’s friend.” Also Isaiah 41:8 refers to Abraham as God’s friend.

Moses was known as God’s friend and talked with Him face to face. Exodus 33:11 says, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” From the time God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, to the time Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the wilderness for forty years, to handing the Ten Commandments to him, God led and guided Moses each step of the way.

David was known as a man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14). In Acts 13:22, the Lord testified about David that he was a man after His own heart because he would do everything God wanted him to do. David also had a very close relationship with the Lord.

Jesus tells us in John 15:13-15 how we, too, can be a friend of God. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends.”

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